UK | Public Services Ombudsman for Wales publishes findings of its investigation on the administration of carers’ needs assessments

On 31 October 2024, the Ombudsman publishes the findings of the second ‘own initiative’ investigation, which focuses on the administration of carers’ needs assessments by 4 Local Authorities in Wales – Caerphilly County Borough Council, Ceredigion County Council, Flintshire County Council and Neath Port Talbot Council.

Between 10% and 12% of the population in the Investigated Authorities identify as unpaid carers, according to the 2021 Census.

The Ombudsman’s investigation finds that, although carers are legally entitled under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 to a ‘needs assessment’ if they appear to have needs for support or are likely to do so in the future, only 2.8% of the carers in the Investigated Authorities have had their needs assessed and only 1.5% had an assessment that led to a support plan.

Some areas of good practice were identified across all 4 local authorities but the Ombudsman’s report highlights several areas for improvement:

• The early identification of carers, to support them through early intervention and prevention and to avoid them reaching crisis point before they seek assistance – it is important that carers are informed that they have a right to have their needs assessed separately from the person they are caring for if they want a separate assessment;
• The early identification of carers is not only the role of local authorities, health services also have a role to play and there is a need to improved collaboration;
• There is a need for better data collection and use of equality data;
• There is a need for better monitoring of the quality and consistency of carers needs assessments – where local authorities contracts another organisation to complete carer needs assessments on their behalf they remain responsible for the services and should monitor the contractual arrangements;
• Local Authorities must ensure that their staff and those employed by other organisations commissioned to deliver services are trained appropriately on carers rights and how to assess carers needs.

The learning from this report applies to all 22 Local Authorities in Wales. The Ombudsman is pleased to note that the actions identified are already being taken forward by the Welsh Government through its Ministerial Action Group.

Kindly click here to read the full article and access the report.

Source: The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, UK